Name: Sweet Georgia's Juke Joint

Website: http://www.sweetgeorgiasjukejoint.com/

Menu: http://www.sweetgeorgiasjukejoint.com/food-and-drink.html

Ever since we put out the season finale of The ATL Bite Life Show with Travis Porter, so many of you have been asking me, "where was that place??".  Well, that place is Sweet Georgia's Juke Joint and it's AMAZING!!!


Located at the corner of Peachtree St and Ellis St in what used to be the big downtown Macy's building, SGJJ is exactly what the city needed.  It's an upscale eatery offering a nice twist on southern cuisine and nightly live entertainment.  Yes, there have been similar concepts that did it with a certain grace before.  Dante's Down The Hatch (when it was at Underground Atlanta) and even Hairston's to a certain degree.  But, these days, NO ONE in the city is doing it like THIS!!!

Juke Joint Wings - $10

On my first official visit after the show taping, I took a few guests with me and told them I was footing the bill.  They took full advantage.  Smh.  We dove right into the menu head first.  Appetizer - Juke Joint Wings.  Personally, I've never been a big fan of grilled wings (at home or at restaurants).  I prefer mine slightly more American Deli-ized.  Alone, these wings were okay.  But, when you smother them in that Juke Joint BBQ sauce, WHOA!!!  Not bad at all.

Shrimp & Grits - $16

Catfish & Grits - $16

Peach Glazed Alaskan Salmon & Garlic Mashed Potatoes - $16

A few of my guests opted to go the seafood route.  So, next to the table came Shrimp & Grits, Catfish & Grits, and a Peach Glazed Salmon with Mashed Potatoes.  Rave reviews all around!!!  You know how when good food hits the table and everyone goes quiet??  That's what happened.  Everyone dug in.  Of course, I took bites off of everyone's plate.  DELICIOUS!!!  Side story: I used to love catfish but once I got into the music industry, everyone was so health conscious that they kinda shamed me away from eating "bottom feeder" fish.  WHATEVER!!!  I'm baik at it (JW voice).  Lol.  That catfish was too good!!! And, that salmon was great too.  That glaze wasn't too sweet or too bland.  It was just right!!!

I think my only complaint would've been that there weren't enough shrimp in the Shrimp & Grits.  However, I notice that that seems to be the thing at most restaurants when it comes to that dish (which is why I don't order it).  Big bowl of grits, 4 or 5 shrimp??  That ain't for me.

Juke Joint Fried Chicken w/ Mac & Cheese + Collard Greens - $17

Then, MY food came.  The Juke Joint Fried Chicken with Mac & Cheese and Collard Greens.  Of course, my food was the best!!!  Once I bit into the Fried Chicken, I realized 2 things.  One, pretty much anything they FRY is gonna be good.  I don't know what kind of flour, batter, seasoning, whatever that they're using but they got something special.  Both the fish and chicken were light and crispy without being greasy.  The second thing is, I think they used some of that Peach glaze or something on that chicken.  It had a sweetness to it that complimented it so well that it was almost unbelievable.  This is a must order for everyone coming in!!!

Moonshine w/ Pineapple Juice

If you're wondering how we washed all this food down.  Don't.  You know how we do.  We went straight to Foursquare for our answer.  Based on a tip we found, we went for Juke Joint's in-house specialty - The Moonshine.  Be careful though.  They offer the Moonshine as a shot and as a cocktail.  GET THE COCKTAIL!!!  Nothing against the shot but the scene can get kinda loud (you'll find out why below) and if you don't specify CLEARLY, you could end up with a very strong shot on your table like I did.  I cleared it up and they brought me out a Moonshine with Pineapple Juice.  Very good!!!  And, the best part - it came in a mason jar!!!  Love that!!!  Way to stick with the theme, Juke Joint. 

Cinnamon Apple Bread Pudding - $7

We capped off our meal with dessert. All I'm saying is - Get the Cinnamon Apple Bread Pudding!!!  Fantastic!!!  I may have had more than one.  That's all you need to know.  Light, sweet, moist, tasty!!!  When those four words are used to describe anything, could it ever be bad??

Gritz & Jelly Butter performing live

Last but not least, in a neck and neck competition with the food was the entertainment - Gritz & Jelly Butter.  They performed for a little over an hour and ROCKED IT!!!  They played everything from the O'Jays to Ol' Dirty Bastard.  INCREDIBLE!!!  When making your reservation, you may wanna find out if/when these guys are hitting the stage.  I mean, honestly, the combination of the food and the show was like no other dining experience I've EVER had before.

2 things, you definitely want to keep in mind though.  First, this place gets PACKED on Friday and Saturday nights.  Making reservations is a MUST!!!  I actually had to make reservations for a MONTH out.  No exaggeration.  But, when I got there, the best hostess in the world - Theresa - put me in the best seat in the house.  Ask for her when you get there.  She'll take care of you.  And, make sure you tip her well.  If you're gonna be bout that BITE Life, you need to be bout that TIP Live too.  S/O to all the waiters and bartenders.

Second, there is an Entertainment Fee.  They charge $5 person to every bill for the privilege of watching the show.  When I first heard about this, I have to admit, it kinda rubbed me the wrong way.  I had never heard of that.  But, then again, I'd never been to a spot like this.  However, Gritz & Jelly Butter (and Jimi Cravity who was on when we first walked in) was WELL WORTH IT!!!

No matter what, I highly recommend this spot.  The food was good, the service was great, and the entertainment was just the icing on the cake.  I know that most of our readers are in the 25-35 year old range so be warned - the crowd there can be a little older (those 40 year old's get it in).  But, you won't feel out of place or uncomfortable.  The vibe is so vibrant and the ambiance is so contemporary that you won't even notice.  It's perfect for date night, anniversaries, birthdays, etc.

So, pick up the phone and make your reservation today.  Ask Theresa to put my table next to yours.  Lol

Til we eat again!

Ideal For: Date Night, Special Occasion Dining

Name: Sweet Auburn Bakery

Website: http://sweetauburnbakery.com/

Menu: http://sweetauburnbakery.com/menus.html

It was quite a while ago when my sister, Rasheeda, first put me on to Sweet Auburn Bakery.  At that time, I didn't know their name nor their location in the Market.  I also had no idea about the countless hours of preparation and effort put forth by the friendly staff nor the various menu items offered daily at SAB.  But, I definitely knew of their delicious Sweet Potato Cheesecake (which I feel everyone should try before they die).

Recently, I made a special trip on over to Edgewood Avenue and stuck my head in to SAB and it instantly reminded me why I need to share this secret with the world.

Name: FLIP Burger Boutique
Cuisine: American w/ the signature Richard Blais flair
Neighborhood: Midtown
Address: 1587 Howell Mill Rd. Atlanta, GA 30318
Phone: (404) 352-3547
Website: http://www.flipburgerboutique.com
Menu: http://www.flipburgerboutique.com/menu-2/

I got a lot of emails and texts from you guys last week about my review of HD1, the new "haute doggery" that just opened up recently off of Highland Ave .  Many of you loved how I kept it so real about my experience there.  But, many of you also had questions about the OTHER Richard Blais restaurant that I compared HD1 to - FLIP Burger Boutique.  Why does FLIP hit where HD1 misses??  Well, the answer is -  it just does.

Sitting about 3/4 of a mile west from the Howell Mill exit on I-75, FLIP epitomizes the new "sexy" that is the essence of ATL Bite Life in 2011. It's a simple concept (burgers) with a twist (exotic toppings and condiments) and an all white decor that's akin to what you'd find in one of Alex Gidewon's clubs.  It's modern, it's sleek, it's unassuming on the outside, kinda pretentious on the inside, but really good overall.

On my first visit, I was a little timid.  As I perused the menu and I noticed there were burgers with avocado, soy jellies, and curried pickles, I figured it'd be best to start with something simple.  My choice - a regular old turkey burger with American cheese (USA!!!  USA!!!  USA!!!) and a side of fries.  I chased it down with a ginger ale (even though they had a full bar). The service was prompt and professional.  There's also this GORGEOUS waitress there that has this Leona Lewis thing going for her that is. . . . (note to self: I need to stalk her later.  Lol). 

Anyway, the food arrived to my table not too long after ordering it and it was great.  The plate presentation was nice and consistent with the overall ambiance of the place.  Then, I bit into my food.  WOW!!!  My burger was hot, juicy, and seasoned well.  The fries had a Checkers-ish quality but not so "fast foody" if that makes sense.  Everything was just solid across the board.  It kinda reminded me of my trip to Yeah Burger to a certain extent but FLIP's contemporary interior was a sharp contrast to the more casual Yeah down the road.

My only personal disappointments were the two milkshakes I ordered.  Yes, I ordered TWO.  Don't judge me!!!  I was curious.  Up first - the Krispy Kreme shake (for obvious reasons).  For those of you who don't know, I am a Krispy Kreme fanatic!!!  However, there's a reason that there is no picture of this shake in today's post.  It was horrible!!!  It was like they took a dozen glazed donuts and put them in a blender with a half gallon of whole milk.  The result -  a diabetic's nightmare with a nasty after taste.  Not the move at all!!!  I tossed that one.

My second shake was the Nutella + Burnt Marshmallows shake pictured above.  Honestly, this didn't even sound appealing to me.  But, on this particular day, the 6 or 7 tables around me ALL had this shake (no exaggeration).  I figured it must be good if EVERYONE has it, right??  WRONG!!!  The chocolate was extremely rich and the burnt marshmallows just weren't for me.  *Kanye shrug*  I gave up after that one.  I tried though.

Overall, I definitely recommend FLIP Burger.  I've been back several times since that first visit and have NEVER had a bad experience.  I've even tried most of the burgers that I thought were so "weird" at first.  Some were an acquired taste but all were tasty.  In comparison to HD1, I just think that many of those odd toppings or condiments seem to work BETTER on a beef (or turkey) patty than they do on a hot dog. What else can I say??  But, maybe it's me. 

The next time you're near Howell Mill Rd, stop by FLIP and give it a try.  Tell 'em ATL Bite Life sent you.

Happy Eating!!!


Grade: B+
What's Great: Atmosphere, Food
What Ain't: Music can be too loud, Seating in middle sections can be annoying for parties of 2 or 3
Ideal For: The Burger Eater that's tired of burgers